ST: Scott Linehan making Prescott, Cowboys’ offense look good

[Alexander]

I think its the other way around. Linehan couldn't win with 3-4 different backups over the last couple of years. Now Dak comes and Linehan is the reason. I don't think so.

I think he has done a good job of working with Prescott's skill set and paring down the game plans around it. That is something he did not do with the crew last season.

 

[MileyDancer]

We can sit here and call it gutless but on the other hand they won the game. Against better competition maybe they would've lost but I get the conservative play with a rookie QB and RB.

Why? We would have definitely got that 1st down with Zeke. What if that would have been the difference in winning, or not? The guy is still playing to not lose instead of playing to win.

 

[Nova]

I think its the other way around. Linehan couldn't win with 3-4 different backups over the last couple of years. Now Dak comes and Linehan is the reason. I don't think so.

This is probably going to sound like a cop out answer, but I think it’s a combination of those things and more.

The offense simply has a better backfield now with both the addition of Dak and Zeke. Morris is also an upgrade over anything we had last year, and Dunbar is back too.

So Linehan has more to work with and a guy the offense respects (Dak).

But that’s not to say Linehan hasn’t improved either. The passing game has been more creative and they’ve utilized play action, read option, jet sweeps, and bootlegs to keep the defense honest in the run game.

So far I just find myself criticizing things in hindsight, like “oh we should have ran there instead of passed”, but nothing substantial since the Giants game.

Except the empty sets… I hate empty sets.

 

[Nova]

I think he has done a good job of working with Prescott's skill set and paring down the game plans around it. That is something he did not do with the crew last season.

Yeah last year they basically told Brandon Weeden to go be Tony Romo.

 

[gimmesix]

Apparently he has finished sucking.

Just taking a break until he wants to ruin the careers of players like Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel or Kellen Moore. I just don't know what Linehan has against those guys to call plays so poorly instead of like he does for Romo and Dak.

 

[Doomsday101]

Just taking a break until he wants to ruin the careers of players like Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel or Kellen Moore. I just don't know what Linehan has against those guys to call plays so poorly instead of like he does for Romo and Dak.

That is why these 3 are currently starters in the NFL. Oh wait a min. no they are not. Coach can help a player but the player still has to actually go out and do the job. Heck Weeden is sitting 3rd on Houston depth chart. Cassel the vet looked like a deer caught in the headlights and Moore of course show some promise but is injured.

 

[guag]

Apparently he has finished sucking.

 

[roughneck266]

Just taking a break until he wants to ruin the careers of players like Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel or Kellen Moore. I just don't know what Linehan has against those guys to call plays so poorly instead of like he does for Romo and Dak.

I think those guys did a fairly decent job of ruining their own careers.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Why? We would have definitely got that 1st down with Zeke. What if that would have been the difference in winning, or not? The guy is still playing to not lose instead of playing to win.

I think that's the approach you want to take when you have a young Qb and back. Some teams play not to lose and find themselves in the postseason.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

This is probably going to sound like a cop out answer, but I think it’s a combination of those things and more.

The offense simply has a better backfield now with both the addition of Dak and Zeke. Morris is also an upgrade over anything we had last year, and Dunbar is back too.

So Linehan has more to work with and a guy the offense respects (Dak).

But that’s not to say Linehan hasn’t improved either. The passing game has been more creative and they’ve utilized play action, read option, jet sweeps, and bootlegs to keep the defense honest in the run game.

So far I just find myself criticizing things in hindsight, like “oh we should have ran there instead of passed”, but nothing substantial since the Giants game.

Except the empty sets… I hate empty sets.

The Cowboys run empty sets almost every time they're in second and long yardage.

 

[Maxmadden]

Offensive coordinator draws up a play that on paper should take advantage of the defense.

Players execute the play = Offensive genius

Players don't execute the play = Bum

 

[waving monkey]

Apparently he has finished sucking.

Apparently this is funny

 

[waving monkey]

Just taking a break until he wants to ruin the careers of players like Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel or Kellen Moore. I just don't know what Linehan has against those guys to call plays so poorly instead of like he does for Romo and Dak.

Romo and Dak execute the plays

 

[Idgit]

So...Linehan doesn't suck any more now?

He was good in 2014. Then he sucked again last year for some reason. But now he's good again. So far. If we don't win this weekend, though, it'll probably be because of the play calling.

 

[Risen Star]

Linehan's playcalling actually has been much better this year.

I've always given this staff crap, and now I've got to give them credit.

His play calling hasn't been better. The QB play has been better than the crap of 2015.

That play calling criticism is just a fan crutch. Rarely is there anything valid behind the accusation.

 

[gimmesix]

I think those guys did a fairly decent job of ruining their own careers.

No, Linehan did it on orders from Jason Garrett, whose strings were being pulled by Jerry Jones.

Did I forget anyone? Oh yeah, I'm sure Marinelli did something, like refusing to share nicknames with them.

 

[gimmesix]

That is why these 3 are currently starters in the NFL. Oh wait a min. no they are not. Coach can help a player but the player still has to actually go out and do the job. Heck Weeden is sitting 3rd on Houston depth chart. Cassel the vet looked like a deer caught in the headlights and Moore of course show some promise but is injured.

I will say that I did not agree with Linehan's play-calls at times last year (and haven't always this year), but execution can overcome a few suspect calls. Those suspect calls become even more suspect when the execution is poor ... and it also becomes harder to call plays.

 

[elcowboi]

Last year it was Garretts fault this offense was bad. Now that it looks solid its Linehan's credit lol. Easily the most disrespected coach in the league.

Only by Cowboys fans!!! Lol.

 

[Doomsday101]

I will say that I did not agree with Linehan's play-calls at times last year (and haven't always this year), but execution can overcome a few suspect calls. Those suspect calls become even more suspect when the execution is poor ... and it also becomes harder to call plays.

Linehan knows what he is doing, come on fans scream about play calling in every city as if they had a clue. Players have a responsibility a big one in all of this. The pass plays that come in have more than 1 option it is the QB job to make the right reads to find the open man based on the coverages he sees Linehan can't do that for them. In the case of Dak he is making the right reads and he is finding the open man. The plays will work

 

[Doomsday101]

He was good in 2014. Then he sucked again last year for some reason. But now he's good again. So far. If we don't win this weekend, though, it'll probably be because of the play calling.

Seems to be par for course and I said it before the season. It is Jason offense when things go bad it is Linehan offense when things are good. I get a kick out of many fans who actually think they have a clue about play calling.